Gabby Williams Drops 26 as Valkyries Edge Dream 68-64 in WNBA Finals Game 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Gabby Williams scored 26 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 1:18 remaining, as the Golden State Valkyries outlasted the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday afternoon at Chase Center.

The win was the first Finals victory in franchise history for the Valkyries, who are playing their first season in the league. It also gave Golden State a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and handed Atlanta its first postseason loss this year. Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night, again at Chase Center.

Williams put the Valkyries ahead for good with two free throws with 1:18 left, then closed out the game with two more with 4.1 seconds remaining. She finished 7-for-8 from the foul line. Atlanta, down 64-61 with 3:12 to play, never scored again.

A defensive grind on both ends

The numbers described a defensive struggle. Golden State shot just 32.1 percent from the field and 7-of-33 from three-point range, yet held Atlanta to 32.8 percent shooting and 4-of-25 from deep. Atlanta went 2-for-20 from the floor in the fourth quarter after leading 56-51 entering the final period.

Williams carried the scoring load almost alone: no other Valkyrie reached double figures. She scored 16 of her points in the second quarter, tying the third-highest single-quarter total in WNBA Finals history, according to ESPN Insights.

Kiah Stokes added nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks for Golden State, and Kaila Charles grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench. For Atlanta, Allisha Gray led the way with 19 points despite shooting 5-for-19, Angel Reese posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Rhyne Howard added 12 points on 3-for-14 shooting.

Injury scare for Williams

Williams gave Golden State a brief fright late in the game. With 2:15 left, she was knocked to the floor while boxing out on her own free throw and was seen limping and holding her left knee. She stayed in the game and told reporters afterward she was fine. “No, I’m OK. It was a long physical game, but I’m OK,” she said.

“We always knew we were going to find a way somehow,” Williams said postgame, as the sold-out Chase Center crowd chanted her name. Dream coach Karl Smesko praised her impact: “She puts a lot of pressure on your defense. I thought we defended her better in the second half, but a couple of key breakdowns” decided it.

Golden State swept the Dream 3-0 in the regular season. Atlanta reached the Finals after sweeping the New York Liberty 85-83, its first trip to the championship round since 2013.

Reporting based on coverage by NBC Sports Bay Area, USA Today and Sky Sports.